DC-AC Converter and Controller IC Therefor

ABSTRACT

An inventive inverter has a semiconductor switch circuit connected to the primary winding of a transformer. The semiconductor switch circuit is respectively controlled by PWM to supply a constant current to the load connected to a secondary winding of the transformer. The inverter is capable of deliberately regulating its ac power output to the load and lowering the lower limit of the output power through control of the intermittent operation, in which an error signal for carrying out the PWM control is reduced to zero during each off-duty period. In addition, the error signal for the PWM control is slowly decreased or increased in each shift from an off-duty period to on-duty period, and vise versa, by charging or discharging the capacitor in a feedback circuit, thereby allowing slow start or slow end of the respective on-off operations for the constant current control through the PWM.

TECHNICAL FIELD

This invention relates to a dc-ac converter (hereinafter referred to asan inverter) for generating an ac voltage to drive a load from a dcpower supply unit such as a power supply adapter of an electricapparatus and a battery, and a controller IC for use with the inverter.

BACKGROUND ART

A cold cathode fluorescent light (CCFL) has been increasingly used as aback light source of a liquid crystal display monitor of a notebook PCand of a liquid crystal display (LCD) for use with, for example, a TVset. Such CCFL has substantially the same high efficiency and long lifeas a usual hot cathode fluorescent light, without using a filament ofthe hot cathode fluorescent light.

In order to start up and operate the CCFL, a high ac voltage isrequired. For example, a startup voltage of about 1000 V and anoperating voltage of about 600 V are required. These high ac voltagesare generated from a dc power supply unit of, for example, a notebook PCand a liquid crystal TV set, using an inverter.

Conventionally, a Royer circuit has been used as an inverter for theCCFL. The Royer circuit comprises a saturable magnetic core transformerand a control transistor, and is adapted to undergo a self-sustainingoscillation owing to the nonlinear permeability of the saturablemagnetic core and the nonlinear current gain characteristic of thecontrol transistor. The Royer circuit itself requires no external clockor driver circuit.

However, a Royer circuit is basically a constant-voltage inverter, whichcannot maintain a constant output voltage if the input voltage theretoand/or the load current thereof varies. Hence, in order to maintain aconstant input voltage to the Royer circuit, a regulator for supplyingconstant electric power to the Royer circuit is required. For thisreason, the inverter utilizing a Royer circuit cannot be easilyminiaturized, and has low power inversion efficiency.

A CCFL inverter having improved power conversion efficiency has beendisclosed (see for example Japanese Patent Application H10-50489). Thisinverter comprises a first semiconductor switch connected in series withthe primary winding of a transformer, a serially connected secondsemiconductor switch and a capacitor which are connected in parallelwith the primary winding, and a coupling capacitor and a load connectedin series with the secondary winding of the transformer. The first andsecond semiconductor switches are switched on and off by a controlsignal received from a control circuit to supply ac power to the load.

A full bridge (often called H bridge) type CCFL inverter utilizing foursemiconductor switches has been proposed (see for example U.S. Pat. No.6,259,615). This inverter has a transformer having its primary windingconnected to the output end of the full bridge via a resonant capacitorconnected in series with the primary winding. The load is connected tothe secondary winding of the transformer. Of the four semiconductorswitches constituting the full bridge, a first set of two semiconductorswitches establishes a current path in a first direction to the primarywinding of the transformer and a second set of two semiconductorswitches establishes a current path in a second direction to the primarywinding. A control circuit provides the full bridge semiconductorswitches with control signals each having a fixed pulse width and acontrolled relative position of the pulse, thereby regulating the powergiven to the load. Over-current protection is carried out by detectingthe voltage across the secondary winding of the transformer.

There has been known an inverter for providing constant power throughintermittent operation of a switching circuit controlled by PWM, theinverter adapted to detect the current flowing through the CCFL andregulate the duty factor (or the ratio of on-duty period to off-dutyperiod) of the intermittent operation so as to maintain the currentconstant, as disclosed in Japanese Patent Application 2002-221701.

In conventional inverters, power supplied to a load is controlled bycontrolling conduction period (referred to as on-duty period) of asemiconductor switch so as to maintain the load current at apredetermined level. The power supplied to the load can be reduced bydecreasing the width of the control pulse for enabling the associatedsemiconductor switches. However, in an attempt to minimize power supply,the width of the control pulse cannot be decreased arbitrarily smallwithout sacrificing the stability of the inverter. Therefore, it isdifficult to lower the lower limit of dimmer control for a load (such asCCFL).

Moreover, in a conventional inverter adapted to control only the ratioof on-duty period to non-conduction period (referred to as off-dutyperiod) of the intermittent operation, fine dimmer control is difficult.

Further, conventional inverters cannot prevent an over-current and/orover-voltage from being supplied to the load (CCFL) during a startup ofthe inverter due to a loop-delay in constant current control or anoperational delay in over-voltage protection. Moreover, when the controlpulse rises or falls for the intermittent operation of the inverter, thecondition of the inverter changes drastically, which entails anovershoot in the output current particularly during a rise. Suchover-current and over-voltage impose a strong stress on the CCFL,thereby shortening the life of the CCFL. In addition, major componentsof the inverter such as a transformer, a semiconductor switch, and abattery must be constructed to withstand over-current and over-voltage.

It is, therefore, an object of the invention to provide an inverterhaving a semiconductor switch circuit connected to the primary windingof a transformer such that the switches of the semiconductor switchcircuit are respectively controlled by pulse width modulation (PWM) tosupply a constant current to the load connected to a secondary windingof the transformer, wherein said inverter has additional means forcontrolling intermittent operation of the switches to provide fineregulation of power supplied to the load over a broad range. It isanother object of the invention to provide a controller IC for use withsuch inverter.

It is a still another object of the invention to provide an inverter forproviding a constant output current through PWM of a switching circuitand through control of the intermittent operation of the switchingcircuit such that a rapid change in the current that accompanies theintermittent operation can be suppressed by a structure that isdifferent from slow start means for slowly starting up the inverter. Itis a further object of the invention to provide a controller IC for usewith such inverter.

DISCLOSURE OF INVENTION

An inverter in accordance with one aspect of the invention comprises:

a dc power supply;

a transformer having a primary winding and at least one secondarywinding;

a semiconductor switch circuit for passing a current alternately in afirst direction and a second direction from the dc power supply to theprimary winding;

a load connected to the secondary winding;

a current detection circuit for detecting the current flowing throughthe load to generate a current detection signal indicative of thecurrent detected;

a PWM triangular wave signal generation circuit for generating atriangular wave signal for use in PWM (the triangular wave signalreferred to as PWM triangular wave signal);

a PWM control signal generation circuit for generating a PWM controlsignal upon receipt of the PWM triangular wave signal and currentdetection signal by

-   -   generating an error signal based on the current detection.        signal; and    -   comparing the error signal with the PWM triangular wave signal        to generate the PWM control signal; and

an intermittent operation control circuit for setting the level of theerror signal to substantially zero based on an intermittent operationsignal during an off-duty period of the intermittent operation of theswitch circuit, wherein

the semiconductor switch is switched on and off by the PWM controlsignal.

An inverter in accordance with another aspect of the inventioncomprises:

a dc power supply;

a transformer having a primary winding and at least one secondarywinding;

a semiconductor switch circuit for passing a current alternately in afirst direction and a second direction from the dc power supply to theprimary winding;

a load connected to the secondary winding;

a current detection circuit for detecting the current flowing throughthe load to generate a current detection signal indicative of thecurrent detected;

a voltage detection circuit for detecting the voltage impressed on theload to generate a voltage detection signal indicative of the voltagedetected;

a PWM triangular wave signal generation circuit for generating atriangular signal for pulse width modulation (the triangular wave signalreferred to as PWM triangular wave signal);

a PWM control signal generation circuit for generating a PWM controlsignal upon receipt of the PWM triangular wave signal, current detectionsignal, and voltage detection signal by

-   -   generating an error signal based on the current detection signal        and voltage detection signal; and    -   comparing the error signal and the PWM triangular wave signal to        generate the PWM control signal, and

an intermittent operation control circuit for setting the level of theerror signal to substantially zero based on an intermittent operationsignal during an off-duty period of the intermittent operation, wherein

the semiconductor switch circuit is switched on and off based on the PWMcontrol signal.

A controller IC for driving a semiconductor switch circuit to controlthe ac output power thereof to be supplied to a load in accordance withthe invention comprises:

a PWM triangular wave signal generation block, connected to an externalcapacitor (oscillation capacitor) and a resistor (oscillation resistor)for establishing oscillation, for generating a PWM triangular wavesignal;

a PWM control signal generation circuit for generating a PWM controlsignal, the PWM control signal generation circuit adapted to

-   -   receive the PWM triangular wave signal, current detection signal        obtained by detecting the current flowing through the load and        voltage detection signal obtained by detecting the voltage        across the load;    -   generate an error signal based on the current detection signal        and voltage detection signal;    -   compare the error signal with the PWM triangular wave signal to        generate the PWM control signal; and

an intermittent operation control circuit for setting the level of theerror signal to substantially zero based on an intermittent operationsignal during each off-duty period of the intermittent operation,wherein

the semiconductor switch is switched on and off by the PWM controlsignal.

The PWM control signal generation circuit may include

an error signal generation circuit for automatically selecting andoutputting as the error signal one of a current error signal and avoltage error signal in accordance with the magnitude of a current errorsignal and the magnitude of the voltage error signal, the current errorsignal generated based on the difference between the current detectionsignal and a reference current signal, and the voltage error signal isgenerated based on the difference between the voltage detection signaland a reference voltage signal; and

a PWM signal comparator adapted to compare the PWM triangular wavesignal with the error signal to generate the PWM control signal, wherein

the intermittent operation control circuit is connected to the errorsignal generation circuit and includes an intermittent operation controlelement that is switched on and off in accordance with the intermittentoperation signal such that the level of the error signal reduces tosubstantially zero in an off-duty period of the intermittent operation.

The error signal generation circuit may include:

-   -   a first error amplifier for comparing the current detection        signal and the current reference signal to generate a first        error output;    -   a second error amplifier for comparing the voltage detection        signal and the reference voltage signal to generate a second        error output;    -   a first control element controlled by the first error output;        and    -   a second control element controlled by the second error output,        wherein

the output ends of the first and second control elements are connectedwith each other to output the error signals from the node thereof (thenode referred to as interconnection node), and

the intermittent operation control circuit is adapted to set either thecurrent detection signal supplied to the first error amplifier or thesecond error signal supplied to the second error amplifier to apredetermined level to thereby substantially zeroing the error signal.

The controller IC may include

a first feedback capacitor connected between said interconnection nodeand the input end of said first error amplifier receiving said currentdetection signal; and

a second feedback capacitor connected between said interconnection nodeand the input end of said second error amplifier receiving said voltagedetection signal, thereby allowing the error signal to change slowly ina shift between an on-duty and an off-duty period of the intermittentoperation.

The inverter may have a triangular wave signal generation circuit(referred to as intermittent operational triangular wave signalgeneration circuit) for generating a triangular wave signal forintermittent operation of the intermittent operation control element anda comparator for comparing the intermittent operational triangular wavesignal with a duty signal to generate the intermittent operation signalin accordance with the comparison.

The load can be a cold cathode fluorescent light (CCFL).

The inventive inverter and controller IC therefor are adapted to performPWM control on the semiconductor switches of the semiconductor switchcircuit (i.e. control the semiconductor switches through PWM) so as tosupply a constant current to a load, wherein the intermittent operationof the switches is further controlled to provide fine regulation of thepower output to the load over a broader range of the output power. Incontrolling the intermittent operation, the level of the error signalfor performing PWM is set to substantially zero during off-duty periods.Thus the inventive inverter can be of simple structure.

In the controlled intermittent operation, the capacitor of a feedbackcircuit for the PWM control is charged so as to zero the error signalfor the PWM control in a shift from on-duty period to off-duty period,and discharged as to raise the error signal from zero in a shift toon-duty period. This allows the error signal to slowly change whilemaking a shift between on and off duty periods in the intermittentoperation. In this way, since the PWM for constant current controlundergoes slow start or slow end while making shifts between on- andoff-duty periods of the intermittent operation, rapid changes in thecontrolled load current, overshooting of the output current, and hammingof the transformer can be suppressed.

Since the slow start and slow end of the intermittent operation arecarried out by charging and discharging the capacitor of the feedbackcircuit, the length of the slow start and slow end can be setarbitrarily short, independently of the slow start of the startup of theinverter, in a manner appropriate to the intermittent operation of theinverter.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram showing an overall arrangement of aninverter in accordance with an embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram showing an internal structure of acontroller IC for use in the inverter of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a circuit diagram useful in describing slow start and slow endof intermittent operation.

FIG. 4 is a timing diagram for the operation shown in FIG. 3.

FIG. 5 is another timing diagram for the operation shown in FIG. 3.

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

Referring to the accompanying drawings, the invention will now bedescribed in detail with reference to an inverter, along with acontroller IC therefor, for generating from a dc power supply an acvoltage to drive a load.

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an overall arrangement of an inverter inaccordance with a first embodiment of the invention, in which PWMcontrol is performed using an insulated transformer and a full bridgetype switch circuit. FIG. 2 is a diagram showing the internal structureof a controller IC for controlling the inverter.

As shown in FIG. 1, a first switch in the form of a P-type MOSFET(hereinafter referred to as PMOS) 101 and a second switch in the form ofan N-type MOSFET (hereinafter referred to as NMOS) 102 togetherconstitute a first current path in a first (or forward) direction from abattery BAT to the primary winding 105 of a transformer TR. A third PMOSswitch 103 and a fourth NMOS switch 104 together constitute a secondcurrent path in the second (or reverse) direction from the battery BATto the primary winding 105 of the transformer TR. Each of these PMOSs101 and 103 and NMOSs 102 and 104 has a body diode (or back gate diode).With these body diodes, a current can be passed in the reverse directionopposite to the forward path. Additional diodes may be provided toprovide the same function as the body diodes.

The primary winding 105 of the transformer TR is supplied with the powersupply voltage VCC of the dc power supply BAT through the PMOSs 101 and103 and NMOSs 102 and 104 to induce a high voltage across a secondarywinding 106 of the transformer TR in accord with the winding ratio ofthe primary to the secondary windings. The induced high voltage issupplied to a cold cathode fluorescent light FL to turn it on.

Capacitors 111-112 and resistors 117-118 are provided to detect thevoltage impressed on the cold cathode fluorescent light FL and feed thedetected voltage back to a controller IC 200. Resistors 114-115 areprovided to detect the current that flows through the cold cathodefluorescent light FL and feed it back to the controller IC 200. Thecapacitor 111 is adapted to resonate with the inductive transformer TR.The capacitance of the cold cathode fluorescent light FL alsocontributes to the resonance. Elements numbered 113,116,119, and 120 arediodes. Elements numbered 151 and 152 are capacitors provided tostabilize the power supply voltage.

The controller IC 200 has a multiplicity of input/output (I/O) pins. Afirst pin 1P is a mode switching terminal for switching the operationmode of the switching circuit between the PWM mode and the intermittentoperation mode (hereinafter referred to as burst mode). The first pin 1Pis externally supplied with a duty signal DUTY for switching theoperation mode and for determining the duty cycle ratio during the burstmode. A second pin 2P is a terminal (capacitive connection terminal) forconnection with a capacitor 131 of a burst mode oscillator (BOSC). Thesecond pin 2P is connected to the capacitor 131 to generate across thecapacitor a triangular wave signal BCT for initiating a burst (thesignal hereinafter referred to as burst triangular wave signal).

A third pin 3P is a terminal for connection with a capacitor 132 toestablish an oscillation frequency of a PWM mode oscillator (OSC). Atriangular wave signal (i.e. triangular wave signal train) CT for PWM(referred to as PWM triangular wave signal) is generated at the thirdpin 3P connected to the capacitor 132. A fourth pin 4P is a terminal forconnection with a resistor 133 for setting up a charge current to thethird pin 3P. The fourth pin 4P has a potential RT, which causes acurrent to flow through the resistor 133 connected thereto in accordwith the potential RT and the resistance of the resistor 133. A fifthpin 5P is an earth terminal having ground potential GND.

A sixth pin 6P is a terminal (referred to as charge current settingresistor terminal) for connection with a resistor for setting chargecurrent to the capacitor 134 connected to the third pin 3P. The chargecurrent setting resistor 134 connected to the sixth pin 6P is connectedin parallel with the resistor 133 or disconnected therefrom, under thecontrol of an internal circuit of the controller IC 200. The sixth pin6P has a potential SRT, which equals either the ground potential GND orthe potential RT of the fourth pin 4P. A seventh pin 7P is a terminalfor connection with a capacitor 135 for setting a timer latch. Thecapacitor 135 when connected to the seventh pin 7P stores a charge,developing a voltage SCP in accord with the charge. The capacitor 135determines the time limit of protective action to protect the internalcircuit of the controller IC 200.

A ninth pin 9P is an input terminal for a first error amplifier. Theninth pin 9P is fed, via a resistor 140, a current detection signal(referred to as detection current) IS in accord with the current flowingthrough the cold cathode fluorescent light FL. The detection current ISis inputted into the first error amplifier. An eighth pin 8P is anoutput terminal of the first error amplifier. Connected between theeighth pin 8P and the ninth pin 9p is a capacitor 136. The potential ofthe eighth pin 8P serves as feedback control voltage FB for the PWMcontrol. In what follows the ground potential is taken as a referencefor voltage unless otherwise stated.

A tenth pin 10P is an input terminal of a second error amplifier. Thetenth pin 10P is fed via a resistor 139 a voltage detection signal(hereinafter referred to as detection voltage) VS in accord with thevoltage impressed on the cold cathode fluorescent light FL. Thedetection voltage VS is inputted into the second error amplifier.Connected between the tenth pin 10P and the eighth pin 8P is a capacitor137.

An eleventh pin 11P is a terminal for setting starting time and forstarting up the inverter. A signal STB is derived from a delayed startupsignal ST by removing the noise therefrom by means of a resistor 143 anda capacitor 142, and is supplied to an eleventh pin 11P. A twelfth pin12P is a terminal for connection with a grounded capacitor 141 forsetting slow start time. A slow start voltage SS gradually developsacross the capacitor 141 during a startup.

A thirteenth pin 13P is a synchronization terminal to be connected toanother controller IC when the controller 200 is to be synchronizedtherewith. A fourteenth pin 14P is an I/O terminal of the internalclock, for connection with another controller IC when the controller 200is to collaborate with said another controller.

A fifteenth pin 15P is an earth terminal for an external FET drivecircuit. A sixteenth pin 16P is a terminal for outputting a gate drivesignal N1 of the NMOS 102. A seventeenth pin 17P is a terminal foroutputting a gate drive signal N2 of the NMOS 104. An eighteenth pin 18Pis a terminal for outputting a gate drive signal P2 of the PMOS 103. Anineteenth pin 19P is a terminal for outputting a gate drive signal P1of the PMOS 101. A twentieth pin 20P is a power supply terminal forreceiving the power supply voltage VCC.

As shown in FIG. 2 illustrating the internal structure of the controllerIC 200, an oscillation (OSC) block 201 generates a PWM triangular wavesignal CT having a period of cycle determined by the capacitor 132connected to the third pin 3P and the resistors 133-134 connected to thefourth pin 4P, and supply the signal CT to a PWM comparator 214. The OSCblock 201 also generates an internal clock and supplies it to a logicblock 203.

A BOSC block 202 is an oscillation circuit (hereinafter referred to asburst triangular wave signal generation circuit) for generating bursttriangular wave signal BCT having a frequency determined by thecapacitor 131 connected to the second pin 2P. The frequency of the bursttriangular wave signal BCT is set much lower than the frequency of thePWM triangular wave signal CT (i.e., BCT frequency<CT frequency). The dcvoltage supplied to the first pin 1P (that is, analog duty signal DUTY)and the burst triangular wave signal BCT are compared in a comparator221. The output of the comparator 221 is used to drive an NPN transistor(hereinafter referred to as NPN) 234 via an OR circuit 239. In a casewhere a digital (PWM) duty signal is supplied to the first pin 1P, aresistor is connected to the second pin 2P to output a predeterminedburst voltage from the BOSC block 202.

The logic block 203 is supplied with a PWM control signal, for example,to generate a switch drive signal in accord with a predetermined logic.An output block 204 generates gate drive signals P1, P2, N1, and N2, inaccord with the switch drive signal received from the logic block 203,and supplies them to the respective gates of the PMOSs 101 and 103 andNMOSs 102 and 104.

A slow start block 205 is supplied with the start up signal ST and isstarted up by the output of a comparator 217 when the slowly risingvoltage STB raised by the capacitor 142 and resistor 143 and input tothe comparator 217 exceeds a reference voltage Vref 6. The output of thecomparator 217 enables the logic block 203. Element 249 is an inversioncircuit. The output of the comparator 217 resets a flip-flop (FF)circuit 242 via an OR circuit 243. As the start block 205 is started up,a slow start voltage SS, inputted to comparison input of the PWMcomparator 214, gradually rises. Thus, during a startup, PWM iscontrolled by the slow start voltage SS.

It is noted that during a startup, the comparator 216 turns off an NMOS246 via an OR circuit 247 when the input to the comparator 216 exceeds areference voltage Vref5. This causes the resistor 134 to be separatedfrom the controller IC 200 and the frequency of the PWM triangular wavesignal CT to be changed. The OR circuit 247 is also fed with the outputof a comparator 213.

A first error amplifier 211 compares the voltage indicative of thedetection current IS that is proportional to the current flowing throughthe cold cathode fluorescent light FL with a reference voltage Vref2(which is, for example, 1.25 V), and generates an output in accord withthe error between them to control an NPN 235 connected to a constantcurrent source I1. The collector of the NPN 235 is connected to theeighth pin 8P. Thus, the potential of the node (i.e. the eighth pin 8P)serves as the feedback voltage FB to be inputted to the PWM comparator214 as a comparison input.

The PWM comparator 214 compares the PWM triangular wave signal CT witheither one of the feedback voltage FB or the slow start voltage SS thathas a lower voltage than the other to generate and provide PWM controlsignals to the logic block 203 via an AND circuit 248. Under a steadystate condition reached subsequent to a startup, the PWM triangular wavesignal CT is compared with the feedback voltage FB for automated controlof the current flowing through the cold cathode fluorescent light FL ata preset level.

Because the capacitor 136 is connected between the eighth pin 8P and theninth pin 9P, the feedback voltage FB increases and decreases smoothly.As a consequence, the PWM control is carried out smoothly, without anabrupt change.

A second error amplifier 212 compares the detection voltage VS that isproportional to the voltage across the cold cathode fluorescent light FLwith a reference voltage Vref3 (which is 1.25 V, for example) togenerate an output voltage indicative of the difference between them.This output is used to control a double collector type NPN 238 havingone collector connected to the constant current source I1. Since thecollector of the NPN 238, is also connected to the pin 8P, the feedbackvoltage FB is also controlled by the detection voltage VS. That is, thecomparator 212 and the NPN 238 together constitute a feedback signalcontrol circuit for controlling the feedback signal FB.

Incidentally, if the feedback voltage FB exceeds a reference voltageVref1 (e.g. 3 V), a PNP transistor (hereinafter referred to as PNP) 231will be switched on to limit excessive rise of the feedback voltage FB.

A comparator 215 compares the power supply voltage VCC with the voltagegenerated by dividing the power supply voltage VCC by resistors 240 and241 and with a reference voltage Vref7 (e.g. 2.2 V), and, when the powersupply voltage VCC reaches a predetermined level, inverts its output toreset the FF circuit 242 via the OR circuit 243.

A comparator 218 compares the slow start voltage SS with a referencevoltage Vref8 (e.g. 2.2 V) to turn on the NPN 234 via an AND circuit 244and an OR circuit 239 when the voltage SS exceeds the reference voltageVref8. The NPN 234, when turned on, causes a diode 232 to be reverselybiased by a current source 12 and hence enables the first erroramplifier 211 to perform its normal operation. Thus, the NPN 234, diode232, and the current source I2 constitute a control mode switchingcircuit for switching the control mode between burst control and pulsewidth control mode.

When the NPN 238 having one of the double collectors connected to aconstant current source I3 is turned on by the second error amplifier212, its collector voltage lowers below a reference voltage Vref9 (e.g.3 V). This causes the output voltage of a comparator 219 to be reversed.A comparator 220 compares the feedback voltage FB with a referencevoltage Vref10 (e.g. 3 V), and inverts its output voltage when thefeedback voltage FB exceeds the reference voltage. The outputs of thecomparators 219 and 220 are inputted, along with the inverted output ofthe comparator 218, to a timer block 206 via an OR circuit 245. Thetimer measures time elapsed and outputs the inverted signal after apredetermined time later. The output of this timer block 206 is suppliedto the FF 242 to reset it, the Q output of which in turn disables thelogic block 203.

Referring to FIGS. 3-5, operation modes of the inverter, particularlythe modes of its operation during a startup and a burst, will now bedescribed in detail. FIG. 3 shows a portion of the circuit of FIGS. 1and 2 that takes part in slow start mode during a startup and a burstmode. FIGS. 4 and 5 are timing diagrams useful in describing theoperation shown in FIG. 3.

The controller IC 200 is supplied with the power supply voltage VCC, TheOSC block 201, the capacitor 132, and the resistor 133 togetherconstitute a triangular wave signal generation circuit, which generatesa triangular wave signal CT having a frequency determined by thecapacitance of the capacitor 132 and the resistance of the resistor 133.This triangular wave signal CT is inputted into (+)-input terminal ofthe PWM comparator 214.

The feedback voltage FB is supplied to one of the two (−)-inputterminals of the PWM comparator 214. Thanks to a common circuitconsisting of the constant current source I1 and the NPNs 235 and 238and supplied with the power supply voltage VCC, the feedback voltage FBrises to a high level (upper limit of the feedback voltage) when thepower supply voltage VCC is supplied to the PWM comparator 214. Thefeedback voltage FB is constrained to a constant level by the PNP 231and the reference voltage Vref1.

However, the slow start voltage SS inputted to another (−)-inputterminal of the PWM comparator 214 remains zero, since no startup signalST is received. At this stage, the PWM comparator 214 outputs no PWMcontrol signal yet, since the PWM comparator 214 prioritize a lower oneof the feedback voltage FB and the slow start voltage SS.

As a startup signal ST is externally supplied to the slow start circuitrepresented by the start block 205, the constant current source insidethe start block 205 is activated to supply a constant current to thecapacitor 141. Then, since the capacitor 141 is charged by the constantcurrent, the slow start voltage SS rises linearly with a predeterminedslope. That is, the inverter undergoes slow start in the startup.

The slowly rising slow start voltage SS is compared with the PWMtriangular wave signal CT in the PWM comparator 214, whereby a PWMcontrol signal is outputted from the PWM comparator 214 in accord withthe magnitude of the slow start voltage SS. This PWM control signal issupplied to the MOSFETs 101-104 via the logic block 203 and the outputblock 204 to initiate inverter operation.

Since the load of the inverter, i.e. cold cathode fluorescent light FL,will not be turned on until the voltage across the cold cathodefluorescent light FL reaches a predetermined magnitude, the outputvoltage Vo rises with the slow start voltage SS in an early stage of theslow startup. Therefore, unlike conventional inverters, the inventiveinverter will not initially impress on the cold cathode fluorescentlight FL an excessive output voltage Vo (as high as 2000-2500 V, forexample) due to the initial feedback voltage FB at its upper limit.Moreover, since there can be no inrushing current that accompanies suchexcessive output voltage Vo, the cold cathode fluorescent light FL andthe major circuit components (e.g. MOSFETs 101-104, transformer TR,battery BAT, etc.) of the inverter are greatly relieved of stress anddamage arising from excessive voltages.

The output current Io of the inverter is detected and the detectioncurrent IS associated with the detected output current Io is inputted tothe first error amplifier 211. The first error amplifier 211 comparesthe voltage indicative of the detection current IS with the referencevoltage Vref2 to output a voltage for controlling the NPN 235. Theoutput voltage Vo is also detected and the detection voltage VSassociated therewith is inputted to the second error amplifier 212. Thesecond error amplifier 212 compares the detection voltage VS with thereference voltage Vref3 and generates an output voltage to control theNPN 238. As the NPN 235 or NPN 238 is controlled by the detectioncurrent IS or the detection voltage VS, respectively, the feedbackvoltage FB begins to fall from the maximum upper level.

As the output voltage Vo rises and reaches the startup voltage (about1000 V), the output current Io begins to flow, turning on the coldcathode fluorescent light FL, which in turn causes the output voltage Voto fall to a predetermined operating voltage (about 600 V). It is notedthat no excessive inrushing current will flow at this point. The outputcurrent Io gradually rises up, while the output voltage Vo remains atthe substantially constant operating voltage. As the output voltage Voor the output current Io grows larger, causing the NPN 235 and 238 to becontrolled, the feedback voltage FB is gradually lowered from themaximum upper level by the feedback action of the capacitor 136 and 137.

As the slow start voltage SS rises, the output current Io increaseswhile the feedback voltage FB decreases. When the feedback voltage FBbecomes equal to the slow start voltage SS, the PWM comparator 214begins to compare the PWM triangular wave signal CT with the feedbackvoltage FB in place of the slow start voltage SS that has been so farcompared with the PWM triangular wave signal CT. This completes the slowstart. The time required for the slow start is fairly long, since ittakes time to start up the disabled cold cathode fluorescent light FL.

The output current Io is controlled to remain at a predeterminedconstant level determined by the reference voltage Vref2. The luminanceof the cold cathode fluorescent light FL is determined by the magnitudeof the current flowing through it. Hence, in order to maintain thiscurrent, a substantially constant operating voltage must be applied tothe cold cathode fluorescent light FL. Therefore, in order to turn onthe cold cathode fluorescent light FL, the output voltage Vo is broughtto a high level during a startup, but it can be lowered to a lowoperating voltage once the fluorescent light FL is turned on. Hence, thelevel of the feedback voltage FB in a steady state (i.e. when thefluorescent light FL has been turned on) is determined based on themagnitude of the output current Io.

Incidentally, the start block 205 may be provided with a dischargecircuit for discharging the charge stored in the capacitor 141 inpreparation for the next startup following a shutdown of the inverter.The discharge of the capacitor 141 may be executed by the startup signalST.

Thus, during a startup, by allowing slow start to be executed in commonfor the output voltage Vo and the output current to supplied to the coldcathode fluorescent lamp under PWM control, an abnormally excessivevoltage and an excessive inrushing current can be prevented fromoccurring in the cold cathode fluorescent light FL.

It should be understood that the outputs of the first error amplifier211 and of the second error amplifier 212 may be directly inputted tothe PWM comparator 214 without passing through the common circuitconsisting of NPN 235 and NPN 238. This can be done by:

providing the PWM comparator 214 with three (−)-input terminals;

inverting the polarities of the inverting (−)-input terminals andnon-inverting (+)-terminals of the first and second error amplifiers 211and 212;

providing separate feedback loops to the respective capacitors 136 and137; and

inputting the PWM triangular wave signal CT in the (+)-input terminal ofthe PWM comparator 214, and inputting the outputs of the first andsecond error amplifiers 211 and 212, along with the slow start signalSS, in the three (−)-input terminals.

Next, the inventive burst mode will be described. Under the conditionwhere the controller IC 200 is supplied with the power supply voltageVCC, the burst triangular wave signal BCT is generated by the bursttriangular wave signal generating circuit that consists of the BOSCblock 202 oscillating a burst triangular wave signal and a capacitor131. The frequency of the burst triangular wave signal BCT is determinedby the capacitance of the capacitor 131 and the internal resistance ofthe BOSC block 202. The burst mode may be controlled by changing thelevel of the duty signal DUTY as to whether or not the burst triangularwave signal BCT should exceed the duty signal DUTY and, if it should,how long it should.

The PWM control is performed during on-duty periods (ON DUTY) in whichthe duty signal DUTY exceeds the burst triangular wave signal BCT, asshown in FIG. 4. On the other hand, during off-duty periods (OFF DUTY)in which the duty signal DUTY is lower than the burst triangular wavesignal BCT, the PWM control is stopped to stop supplying power to thecold cathode fluorescent light FL.

The frequency of the PWM triangular wave signal CT may be, for example,120 kHz. Since the PWM triangular wave signal CT is controlled by theburst triangular wave signal BCT having a frequency of, for example, 150Hz, no visual problem will be encountered. By controlling the magnitudeof the duty signal DUTY, it is possible to control the power supplied tothe cold cathode fluorescent light FL (i.e. to control the amount oflight emitted by the cold cathode fluorescent light FL) beyond thecontrol range that can be attained solely by the PWM control.

Further details of the operation of the inverter will now be describedwith reference to FIGS. 4 and 5. During off-duty periods, theintermittent operational signal (burst signal) BRT outputted from thecomparator 221 has a low level (L level) which causes the NPN 234 to beturned off, thereby biasing the diode 232 in the forward direction bythe constant current source I2. The capacitor 136 of the feedbackcircuit is charged by the constant current source I2 via the diode 232.Hence, the detection current IS is pulled up to a high level (H level),bringing the error output of the first error amplifier 211 to the highlevel. Since the NPN 235 is turned on, the feedback voltage FB is aboutzero voltage.

The PWM comparator 214 compares the PWM triangular wave signal CTinputted to the positive (+)-input terminal with lower one of the twoincoming signals inputted to the two negative (−) input terminals.Accordingly, during off-duty periods, the PWM control signal is notoutputted, as shown in the left part of FIG. 4.

At time t1 at which the duty cycle shifts from an off-duty period to anon-duty period (referred to as off-on duty shift), the burst signal BRTchanges from the L level to the H level, thereby causing the NPN 234 tobe turned on. This in turn liberates the diode 232 from the forward biasimposed thereon by the constant current source I2.

The electric charge stored in the capacitor 136 is discharged through aconduction path coupling the constant current source I1, capacitor 136,resistor 140, and resistor 115. This discharge of the capacitor 136causes the detection current IS to slowly decrease and the feedbackvoltage FB to slowly rise, thereby allowing the detection current IS torestore the predetermined level and the inverter resumes the normal PWMcontrol.

In this way, in an off-on duty shift, the feedback voltage PB risesslowly from substantially zero voltage over a time interval (rise time)(represented by “α” in FIG. 5) determined by the time constant of thecapacitor 136 coupled with the resistors 140 and 115. Since the narrowpulse width of the PWM control signal then gradually becomes wider, theoutput current Io also increases slowly, i.e. it undergoes slow start.Hence, there will be no overshoot in the output current Io accompanyingan off-on duty shift.

During on-duty periods, the burst signal BRT has the H level, whichcauses the NPN 234 to be turned on but the diode 234 to be turned offunder the reverse bias. Under this condition, the first error amplifier211 generates an output in accord with the magnitude of the detectioncurrent IS inputted thereto to control the conductivity of the NPN 235.Accordingly, the PWM control signal is supplied from the PWM comparator214 to the logic block 203. Gate drive signals P1-N2 are supplied fromthe output block 204 to the PMOSs 101 and 103 and NMOSs 102 and 104,respectively, for PWM control of these transistors. Incidentally, ashort period TOFF shown in FIG. 4 is provided to have the pairedtransistors simultaneous turned off to prevent a penetration currentfrom occurring.

When a shift from an on-duty period to an off-duty period (referred toas on-off duty shift) is made at time t2, the burst signal BRT changesfrom the H level to the L level to turn off the NPN 234, thereby causingthe diode 232 to be biased in the forward direction by the constantcurrent source I2.

Then the capacitor 136 is charged by the current that flows from theconstant current source I2 to the NPN 235 through the capacitor 136. Thecharging of the capacitor 136 causes the detection current IS to slowlyincrease and the feedback voltage FB to slowly decrease (over a timeinterval (fall time) “β” as shown in FIG. 5. The detection current ISwill reach its upper limit (which equals the power supply voltage of 3Volts of the constant current source I2), while the feedback voltage FBwill decreases to about zero voltage. Then the PWM control is stopped.

In this way, when an on-off duty shift is made in the PWM control, thefeedback voltage FB slowly decreases from its substantial full level inthe PWM control towards zero over the charging time of the capacitor 136(or period β). That is, the on-off duty shift undergoes slow end. As aconsequence, the pulse width of the PWM control signal graduallydecreases from its ordinary pulse width. Hence, the output current Iogradually decreases during the on-off duty shift.

In a burst mode, unlike a startup operation, the cold cathodefluorescent light FL is already turned on, so that the period of slowstart and of slow end can be made shorter than the corresponding periodof the slow start during a startup.

If use were made of a circuit for establishing soft start in the startupalso in the slow start and slow end of burst mode, rising time α andfalling time β would be too long for the burst mode. Hence it would bedifficult to precisely control the load current. Conversely, if use weremade of circuits for establishing slow start and slow end in bust modealso in the soft start of the startup, incoming current during thestartup could not be suppressed effectively.

It should be noted that in accordance with the invention slow start andslow end of the burst mode can be controlled by the capacitor 136provided in the feedback circuit that determines the rise time α and thefall time β. As a result, adequate slow start and slow end can beimplemented using the circuit elements for executing the PWM control,without resorting to any other special circuit means.

INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY

As described above, a dc converter and a controller IC therefor of theinvention are suitable for use as a backlight power supply for a liquidcrystal display that requires a high ac voltage derived from alow-voltage dc power supply.

1-16. (canceled)
 17. A controller IC for controlling the ac power to besupplied to a load by driving a semiconductor switch circuit, saidcontroller IC comprising: a current detection signal input terminal forreceiving a current detection signal formed on the basis of the currentthrough said load and for coupling with one end of a capacitor; a PWMcontrol signal generation circuit adapted to generate an error signalbased on said current detection signal inputted into said currentdetection signal input terminal, and generate a PWM control signal forswitching on and off said semiconductor switch circuit based on saiderror signal; an intermittent operation signal generation circuit forgenerating an intermittent operation signal that intermittently changesits state between a first and a second state; and an intermittentoperation control circuit for receiving said intermittent operationsignal, said intermittent operation control circuit adapted to chargesaid capacitor via said current detection signal input terminal whensaid intermittent operation signal is in said first state.
 18. Thecontroller IC according to claim 17, wherein said intermittent operationcontrol circuit has a current source for providing a constant current; aswitch connected to one end of said current source and switched on andoff based on said intermittent operation signal; and a diode forsupplying current from said current source to said current detectionsignal input terminal when said intermittent operation signal is in saidfirst state.
 19. The controller IC according to claim 17, wherein saidPWM control signal generation circuit has an error amplifier forgenerating said error signal based on said current detection signal anda reference signal, and is adapted to switch on and off saidsemiconductor switch circuit based on said error signal.
 20. Thecontroller IC according to claim 17, comprising an error signal outputterminal for outputting said error signal.
 21. The controller ICaccording to claim 20, wherein another end of said capacitor isconnected to said error signal output terminal.
 22. The controller ICaccording to claim 17, comprising an oscillation section for outputtingtriangular wave signal, and a slow start section for outputting a slowstart voltage that is adapted to rise gradually after switching on apower supply, wherein said PWM control signal generation circuit furthercomprises a PWM comparator for outputting said PWM control signal bycomparing lower one of said error signal and said slow start voltage,and said triangular wave signal.
 23. The controller IC according toclaim 22, wherein compared to a time for said current detection signalinput terminal to become a predetermined potential after switching onsaid power supply, a longer time is taken for said current detectionsignal input terminal to become said predetermined potential after saidintermittent operation signal shifts from a second condition to a firstcondition.
 24. The controller IC according to claim 17, furthercomprising a resistor with one end connected to said current detectionsignal input terminal, wherein the potential of said current detectionsignal input terminal gradually falls down, when said intermittentoperation signal shifts from a second condition to a first condition.25. The controller IC according to claim 24, wherein compared to a timefor said current detection signal input terminal to become apredetermined potential after switching on said power supply, a longertime is taken for said current detection signal input terminal to becomesaid predetermined potential after said intermittent operation signalshifts from a first condition to a second condition.
 26. A dc-acconverter, comprising: the controller IC according to claim 17; asemiconductor switch circuit that is switched on and off by said PWMcontrol signal outputted from said controller IC; a transformer having aprimary winding connected to said semiconductor switch circuit and atleast one secondary winding; and a load connected to said secondarywinding of said transformer.
 27. The dc-ac converter according to claim26, further comprising a current detection circuit for outputting acurrent detection signal based on the current through said load, saidcurrent detection signal fed to said controller IC from said currentdetection signal input terminal of said controller IC.
 28. The dc-acconverter according to claim 26 or claim 27, wherein said load is aCCFL.